Prepaid money card for NI residents

Mnoee

You're moaning about your own wife having a bit of extra cash?! I'm glad I'm not married to you! 

qwert_yuiop

I’m not moaning. I’m making an observation. Is it inaccurate?

Mnoee

Has your wife been supporting you while you've had little earning? Paying all the bills, rent or mortgage, putting food on the table? I mean, if she's been sitting on a pile of money like a dragon overlord laughing then I can understand you 'observing' that she's had a whale of a time during this pandemic, but this is really straying into 'relationships' board territory more than anything Northern Ireland related.

I know people who were furloughed who still had to cancel weddings, miss out of big birthday celebrations or just couldn't go visit their Nan. If your wife truly missed nothing important, but was on full pay with no work and loved it, she must be fairly unique. 

IrishSean

Lol, you can tell this is an NI forum😂
My butchers and fruit & veg shop take card payments: its to support the 87% of SMEs in the north, many of whom are struggling. Would be good to hear from an SME if anyone would post.

I dont think it should be allowed to be spent on bookies, booze or fegs, then again I think a % of state benefits should be food stamps (especially child benefit / CTC) which might be unpopular but is a practical solution to some of the food poverty issues. 

donnac2558

This is a one-off payment of £75-£100 on a pre-paid card.   Food stamps are a whole different ball game, which shops would be will to accept them?  I know some new mothers can get vouchers for milk etc but they are only accepted at supermarkets.  And I know some who just sell them to others.

The chemist I collect my prescriptions from has only ever taken cash they even have notices up.

Zola.

Can we spend it on buckfast and regal filter

donnac2558

WOW!!!  Big spender Buckfast is pretty expensive still to the cider.

guiriman

Most people will probably go to Tesco and buy an Amazon gift card or similar

donnac2558

Yes.  this strange idea that everyone will buy food totally wrong.   Some might buy a new vacuum or microwave if they need or even a new winter coat?     The only rule they have announced it cannot be used online.

The one-man interviewed on UTV about it and owned a shop wanting it to be used on independent shops had one of those that sell fancy expensive candles and those type of things.

Lucys_Da

It’s a little disappointing to read here how people think these vouchers will be used. I am sceptical that it will be able to be used for food of any sort. That’s not really the idea behind it, likewise people are getting a little hung up and focusing on it being like a compensation payment to the individual. 

The purpose of this scheme is to help our struggling high streets. Yes, it’s to an extent a reward for the individual but it’s more about money being spent in stores and getting people back out shopping. 

I’m a local, independent retailer and like many many businesses it has been a terrible year and the very future of bricks and mortar retail of non food consumer goods is under very serious threat. 

I would encourage you all to look around the places you live and you’ll see plenty of independent retailers. Go and shop there with your vouchers and on an ongoing basis. Basically every penny I make stays in this economy and that’s a good thing. I employ NI residents, I train them, offer them new skills for their future and we offer a level of service that the multinationals and the internet don’t even realise exists. 

Well that’s my tuppence-worth and everyone will do as they please but enjoy no matter what and at least it will hopefully get people back out shopping again.